So what kind of color are you guys rocking on your belt tools these days?

This weekend I pulled out my original '1984 secret spy' single barrel pop gun I got a few weeks back and 2 of the 4-barrel versions Dropship Bob hipped us to from the BigZoo.




I'm torn between BB (or BB substitute in this case), OD Green or rolling with simple black. So I blasted one of each!



Still torn though as that didnt help me decide. They each have their cool factor. I dont want to get too heavy into weathering them and "finishing" them until I decide. I do want them to be the same as I fear I would look a bit silly rocking a rainbow belt tool lineup...so I need to chose...

Anyone with thoughts/pics on your own setup?

I would say either green or black. I haven't had a chance to get my hands on a belt tool yet, but I think the green would match the screen look and belt/straps better. I believe that Vasquez's "tool" (as the smartgun battery) is black.

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

Mine was originally black, however I recently repainted it a BB substitute.

But I found that my substitute is a wee bit too light to be truly BB, so I'm going to give my Belt Tool a blackwash to tone it down.


So to give you a straight answer ( ), I'd go with BB.


Kevin

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Here's another choice to blow your mind further...gun metal!

But of the ones you have, I'd go with BB. Nice work!

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"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

OD all the way baby!

But if you want your kit to match I guess BB makes the most sense for you. Your PR is BB, and your helmet cam too if I recall correctly.

I see you painted the vintage toy BB, so what if you went a different route with the multi barrel ones? It would add to the mystery!

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

I just got my 2 from BigZOO too!, and I came here to ask that same question!

I haven't taken them "apart" yet, but I have looked at a finished belt tool and theres the wire clip that holds the handle down (simple enough) but there was also a spring under the handle. Is that a found spring or what? Sorry if its a stupid question haha, but I'm heading to town so I want to get everything I need to get started on some projects!

Thanks!

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Lt. Melissa L. Klassen, ALG
AL Colonial Admin. - Executive Officer (XO) -- 2021-2022
RCCM | Royal Canadian Colonial Marines - Commanding Officer (CO) -- 2021-2022

Read the AL Charter Rules & Regulations: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i3gd9QUyIqI_6rfk8kpxspbKU-JT4MBAjLPxfCkvGJ8

I see you don't know yet my thoughts on Brown Bess.

I'd go with a darkened BB

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AKA: Simon

I'd go darkened BB or OD... But the same for all...

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A02/TQ2.0.52141E1

"Errr... Roger that's a 2-1-6..."

Yeah a good ol worn BB was the gut feeling all along. Retro pointed out the fact the "vintage/correct" one got the BB coat and it was no accident. I really did like what he did with his own though in OD. But also as he pointed out, most of my other gear has the BB sub color. 95% sold on BB at this point. Still will let it stew until the weekend...

I like black or gun metal. Makes it look more like hitech equipment.

BB all the way

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Pt. Graham "gunny" Green
A07/TQ2.0.12129E1
UKCM 501st Regt. 1st Batt. The Bucketheads

BB with a wash...

Slightly off-topic so apologies in advance:

How do those pop-guns actually work?
Does the handle bit cock it or something?

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AKA: Simon

The two halves slide. The big notch in the middle has the 'front' handle when in tact (removed for this use), and you squeez the two handles together. As the two handles move closer together, the gray half slides into the black half where a spring is charged. At a certain point in the compression, the spring releases and sends a puff of air that launches a "gummi pellet". When you let go of the two handles the gray rear half slides back out into start position.

The old ones actually shoot really far. The new ones, predictably, are much less impressive. Much looser and weaker.

I am a fan of OD personally.

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"Tyranny will know our name, for we will carve it into his forehead."

No ground to give...not 1 inch... Major T. Gunn

Is it possible to cut the 4-barrels off and glue back just the 1 barrel???

Are they the same width etc.?

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All right, sweethearts, what are you waiting for? Breakfast in bed? Another glorious day in the Corps! A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the farm. Every meal's a banquet! Every paycheck a fortune! Every formation a parade! I LOVE the Corps!

the 4 barrel version is a bit wider on the end, you can see in bigbisont's first image at the top of this thread. I imagine you could make one barrel with a wider base though. Might be tricky

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Lt. Melissa L. Klassen, ALG
AL Colonial Admin. - Executive Officer (XO) -- 2021-2022
RCCM | Royal Canadian Colonial Marines - Commanding Officer (CO) -- 2021-2022

Read the AL Charter Rules & Regulations: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i3gd9QUyIqI_6rfk8kpxspbKU-JT4MBAjLPxfCkvGJ8

Thanks Moosh, yeah looks to be too tricky. Will just have to continue to search the globe for the one barrel model. Hudson definitely wears one of these (I think)?

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All right, sweethearts, what are you waiting for? Breakfast in bed? Another glorious day in the Corps! A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the farm. Every meal's a banquet! Every paycheck a fortune! Every formation a parade! I LOVE the Corps!

'Belt Tools' are a prop that I disrespected and didn't care about for a long time, but now I have come to see them as extremely underrated. They are actually pretty key if you are building a "screen accurate" kit.

Hudson: x 1 on belt (left pelvis)
Hicks: x 1 on belt (right pelvis [and upside down?! Most others go barrel down. Hicks has barrel up])
Apone: x 3 on belt and strap (on each pelvis and one left strap)
Frost: x 3 on belt (two right pelvis, one on left pelvis)
Dietrich: x 2 on belt (one each pelvis)
Crowe: x 2 on belt (two right pelvis)

The smart gunners and Ski were the only ones to not have at least one.


Anyways, back to the original point. They are all painted the same color now, pictures to follow. The sticking point now, like for all props, comes down to weathering. "Kicked to crap" used....or "fresh out the box" clean? I'll be posting pics of both shortly (I love having more than one to play with!)

For questions like that, I tend to look at archived images from troops in Vietnam: Look at the state of the smoke grenades and similar you see festooning the webgear of a groundpounder in country- they tend to be lacking paint and have plenty of bright spots.

The flipside of that is everything was new and box fresh once!

Me, I'd try to match the level of 'ageing' on my armour set for this particular greeble.

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2nd Lt Jon "Jaylo" Lopez
A11/TQ1.0.72144E1
USCM Quality Assurance Division- Aerospace and Space Products- Earth
"Checklists Save Lives- No Service Stations at 30,000ft"

I agree with demon. I wouldn't have them totally beat to hell unless your armor is too. A light dry brush with silver mainline highlighting the edges to give the feel of carried on your gear but not through a warzone. I always recommend start very light on the weathering and work your way up. It's always easier to add more than try to take away. When you hit that point where you want to add just a little more, stop and wait a day and see if you still want to do it.

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

I'm a "too light" over "kicked to crap" man, myself. I'm not sure this will help anyone else but I slapped together this compilation when trying to decide.




For most pics, its real hard to tell because the they are just not well lit or too far away, BUT...there is clearly some weathering. Varying amounts in fact. It looks to me like Hicks', Hudson's and Apones have the most weathering. This could well be because they got the most screen time. Frosts and Crows look a little more 'clean'.

The production photo of the prop is absolutely minty fresh. I can only assume it was taken prior to filming (and prior to weathering?)

Food for thought.

I am beginning to see your point about the belt. I wasn't going to include it in my kit, but you've made a good argument about how it seems to be a pretty standard part of any marine kit.

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

And the 2nd draft is done! I need to paint the wire clip things I added but otherwise I am pretty happy for now.

I left the 'vintage' one in a little better shape than the other guys on purpose. Pics from a couple different 'lighting' effect below:

Outdoor (but in shadow)


Indoor with camera flash


Indoor (but near 'bay door' so lots of natural light)


Overall, I may still tweak but am damn happy with the BB (alternative) paint on it. I think it was the right choice.